Dr Who Dr Marten Boots

Sneakers are for converse as boots are for Dr Marten boots. The long lived boots is still alive today and are still being slipped on by millions around the world! The popularity of these boots were augmented by the skinheads in Britain in the decades past.

But this pair of boots doesn’t just appeal to the skinheads, they were also a favorite of mail carriers, rock stars, rebels, non-conformists and more.

It’s even given its own definition in the Oxford dictionary and is in fact more than a century old. In 1901, Benjamin Griggs and Septimus Jones set up a boot business in England and 10 years later, Griggs took in his son Reginald to form R. Griggs & Co. Flash forward to 1945 Germany. Dr. Klaus Maertens has invented an air-cushioned sole. On leave during World War II, Maertens injures his ankle while skiing. The issued boots he had from the army are torturing his feet so did what any reasonable person would, design a pair with finer leather and air-cushioned soles.

The footwear doesn’t earn Maerten a reichsmark – until he teams up with Dr. Herbert Funck in 1947. Using abandoned rubber from Luftwaffe airfields, the create the perfect sole.

Maertens and Funck. Running a successful factory in Munic are eager to sell globally and when Griggs company has heard of their magic soles, they contacted the Doctors to see if they could manufacture them for his company in England. “Ja” they answered, Griggs designs different footwear uppers for the German air-cushions. After a few design tweaks such as the eight-eyelet boot, introducing the yellow wel stitching and a two-toned, grooved edge. The famous black and yellow heel loop was also added. Dr. Martens name was Anglicized and Griggs now has Dr Marten boots ready to be shipped and to soothe the wear British soles.

The very first DM eight-eye boot began production in the UK on April 1, 1960 and was developed for factory workers, bobbies and mail carriers but soon enough was adopted by skinheads who began emerging in Britain in the middle of the decade.

After years musicians and rock stars have started donning these pair of boots as well and the fans of course followed. Eventually punks and other sub-cultures have joined the DM movement and customized their uppers with spray paint and bottle caps to make each pair unique.

But Griggs didn’t export until the 80s, now the whole world is enjoying slipping on this pair of humble boots.